Etiwanda Fire has burned 2,190 acres, 67 percent contained

An inmate fire crew cut a containment line on a ridge in the North Etiwanda Preserve where the Etiwanda Fire, fueled by 80 mph winds, has burned 2,190 acres and threatened homes in Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday.
john valenzuela — staff photographer

RANCHO CUCAMONGA >> Aided by water-dropping helicopters, firefighters continued to battle the Etiwanda Fire on Friday, which officials said they have more accurately measured at 2,190 acres — up from a 1,627 acre estimate on Thursday.

Gentler, shifting winds allowed aircraft to support ground crews and better map the destruction, while altering the blazes path away from homes to the south and toward steep mountainous terrain in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.

The fire is mostly smoldering hot spots, according to Carol Underhill, a San Bernardino National Forest spokeswoman, and recent flare-ups charred unburned vegetation within the fire’s perimeter, which hasn’t changed much.

“It’s burning off what it didn’t the first day,” she said.

The fire ignited about 8 a.m. Wednesday in a rural part of Day Canyon and was pushed southwest by Santa Ana winds gusting up to 80 mph. The gales continued Thursday, preventing aircraft from aiding in the firefight.

The winds also caused the fire to jump from spot to spot, which is why fire officials are now calling the blaze a “ratty burn” inside the fire lines.

Firefighters say they have containment lines around 67 percent of the fire, mostly on its southern flank. There isn’t a “huge threat” to Rancho Cucamonga communities, but structure protection engines continue to patrol the neighborhoods, Underhill said.

The calming winds permitted four helicopters to take flight and make water drops Friday, supporting hand crews who are working the north end of the fire in canyons and mountainsides engines can’t access.

The helicopters also mapped out the fire, which caused the jump in acreage from Thursday evening.

“That would have come from an aerial survey,” said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Dustin Bryant. Thursday’s acreage estimate was conducted by crews walking the fire perimeter.

Area schools were evacuated Wednesday and closed Thursday before reopening Friday. Officials ordered some 1,600 residents who live north of the 210 Freeway to evacuate their homes Wednesday, and allowed them to return that evening.

All roads and public facilities that were closed due to the fire have been reopened, with the exception of the Etiwanda Preserve, which is burning.

Three of the 929 firefighters involved suffered minor injuries — two from flying debris and one for heat exhaustion, according to fire officials.

Calm winds are predicted to continue into the weekend with dropping temperatures. Underhill said handcrews will continue to dig fire lines north of the blaze and strengthen southern lines as the firefight enters its fourth day.